CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA's new boss is already getting cheers from space.
Immediately after being sworn into office Monday by Vice President Mike Pence, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine took a call from the three U.S. astronauts at the International Space Station, who offered "hearty congratulations." The Oklahoma congressman became the 13th administrator of NASA, filling a position that had been vacant for more than a year.
Bridenstine is the first elected official to lead NASA, something that had bogged down his nomination last year by President Donald Trump. The Senate approved his nomination last week by a narrow vote of 50-49. Monday's swearing-in ceremony took place at NASA headquarters in Washington.
Pence noted that the space agency, under Bridenstine's direction, will work to get astronauts back to the moon and ultimately to Mars.
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NASA astronauts @astro_feustel and @astro_ricky share with @VP Pence and new @NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine the work NASA has accomplished throughout their careers from the Space Shuttle Program to the space station, and looking forward to @Commercial_Crew and @NASA_Orion. pic.twitter.com/0wVTbXvmaG
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) April 23, 2018
